Monday, 25 February 2013

Blank Slates & How To Start A New Business

Blank Slate and Tabula Rasa. Two terms for the idea that we come into the world with no pre conceived ideas. That whatever happens to us here is all there is...Nature versus Nurture.

So it is with the blank sheet of paper or the empty blog post - white space - waiting for a creative urge to emerge and then to form.

So it is with the business concept - it isn't there and then it is.

Every successful business has a great central idea at its heart. An idea that customers want. An idea that staff can provide. An idea that can turn a profit. The scalability of that idea determines its potential either as a kitchen table enterprise or as a global beauty.

Which comes first - the desire for a business or the idea appearing? Many people sitting on crowded tubes and buses heading for the city or the West End - daydream about having their own business.

Many of those who are facing redundancy today are wondering if they should start something up on their own or with a colleague.

The difficulty with a blank sheet of paper / a white screen / an empty space is 'how do you fill it?'

In anything the difficulty is the starting off - it's so easy to turn on the TV, turn up the iPod, read the last chapter, call in for a coffee - so much easier than going the first step.

So here's my best idea for getting off the sofa, turning down the music, putting away the book / kindle, walking past the café...

1 Would you prefer to a) sell shoes or b) mend computers?

2 Would you prefer to a) work on your own b) work with others?

3 Would you prefer to a) earn a living b) run a business?

4 Would you choose a) freedom b) discipline?

Some of these are difficult answers to make. Surely earning a living is part of running a business? Not necessarily. Businesses take cash and often that cash comes out of the owners own pocket. Window cleaners earn a living - it's an easy one - it's a simple proposition and they finish when they finish - a contractor of window cleaning services - runs a business and spends his time fulfilling contracts - it's more office work than cleaning work...

Surely you choose to run your own business for the freedom it gives you - running your own business doesn't give you the freedom you might imagine. You have client commitments, bank commitments, staff commitments. Sometimes working for someone else gives you much more freedom. Discipline is what gives you freedom. If you are disciplined then you can focus on your business and then focus on something else like a personal life.

Next, when you have come up with what business you might want to consider - I would go to an exhibition or an event on the subject. I would start the research.

Clients, suppliers, competition, company name, business model, marketing ideas, investment requirements...going to an event makes the idea start to come to life. You realise the world you are potentially interested in really exists and people are making money there right now.

I spent years researching exhibitions - from a client perspective, from an industry perspective and from an organiser perspective. After all those years and all those conversations there is no doubt in my mind that exhibitions provide one of the most valuable services to the enterprising culture of the world. Some exhibitions are better than others but most catalyse you into the future.

If you want support on getting your unformed business idea to the next stage of reality - I can help.

Why wait for the mood to take you? Why wonder if you could make it happen? Just email me.

I walk the talk - next week I am going to ecobuild with my clients...to find out about the modern world of building and construction. Where are you going?

Get up and do stuff, here's why...

BusinessWorking well gives people a real sense of achievement and satisfaction. Highly productive and successful people have a strong belief in what they do, a clear understanding of how to progress and a desire to make things happen. They listen and learn and perform at every level. Live business activities stimulate this and support well connected, highly networked confident companies and organisations.

Challenging NormsMany live performances challenge stereotypes and current thinking, offering new solutions to age old problems or just a new viewpoint which stimulates debate

ChemistryA physical chemical that is released when we are close up and personal with others that we find exciting. This is not just a sexual thing it can be released being around people in platonic settings too

ClosenessOften you see couples holding hands or families holding hands when they are at events this is part of the essential glue that binds us

ConnectionWhen we go out and do things we are around other people who are likeminded and enthusiastic this gives us a feeling of connection, an idea we are not alone

CuriosityBeing curious is a healthy state of mind - it means you are open to possibility, alive

DiscussionBy doing different things you can join in conversations with friends and families and even passing strangers and tell them things you are up to

DistractionThe mind needs distraction from worries and anxieties, events and live stuff offers a positive distraction from the daily grind

EnergyWe get energy from everything that surrounds us, live activities generate energy for everyone taking part

FascinationSeeing what people are doing, crafts and skills they exhibit we are taken into a satisfying state of fascination

GraceLooking at fine art takes us into a state of grace as we contemplate the human skill that has gone into the work and the story being told

HappinessA feeling of being alive creates chemicals in the brain which we experience as happiness, getting out and taking part, learning and discovering creates oodles of happiness

InspirationWe find other people inspiring, their talent and determination helps us to see that things are possible, that things are happening, when we experience these close up it makes them real to us and gives us the idea we could do that too

JoyAnother great mood to experience, being around friends, sharing ideas and being creative gives us joyful times

KnowledgeIt's not about power, it's about wisdom. As you build knowledge and apply that knowledge so your life opens up wider

LaughterGoing out and doing interesting things gives us a good mood which makes it easier to find things to laugh about. Laughter adds to the wellbeing we feel

LearningWe find we are slowly and surely learning new things and growing this leads to a sense of meaning in our life

MemoriesMemories give us meaning. We remember who we are often through what we've done.

MoodGreat experiences alter our mood, which help us feel better and change the way our brains work. They make us more positive about our lives.

NeoThe word for new, our brain loves new things and new ideas, get out and discover your curiosity gene

OpenWhen we are open to each other and to other cultures we find our world expands and becomes exciting and inspiring

PromiseWe all have so much promise. Take yourself out and about and you will experience different sights and sounds, meet new people and enjoy new insights.

QuietReflecting on what's going on in the world gives us a welcome break from multi-screen stimulus

RelaxationEnjoying a day out fishing or pursuing any special interest can offer a fab way to relax and to recharge

RoamToo much of our lives are dictated by the clock, make time to roam again, without an agenda or a to do list

StrayStray from the norm, find places you don't normally visit and drop by, stand and stare for a while, notice what's all around you

TogethernessIs a warm feeling that comes from sharing a day out with family and friends

UnderstandingWhen we watch another and listen and learn we understand a little more about ourselves and those around us

VictoryWhether it's ours or another's there is a rush of euphoria that we feel when we experience triumph

WillingnessWillingness to go beyond our usual habits and routines breathes new life into our world

YouthfulThat's how we feel when we refresh our world through real life experiences on a moment by moment, basis

ZestThe life force that runs through us when we are excited by our place in the world